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With some many falsely run NH races e.g. the last at Navan which turned into a sprint after the 2nd last, you have to admire those horses who get their head down right at the start and try to make all the running. One of my favourites was Limestone Lad.
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buena vista 2 years running in the pertemps final at cheltenham 
2 for the old gits, Sweet Joe and of course Tingle Creek!
My two all time favourites Canasta Lad & The Dikler !
Some more - Attivo virtually making all to win the Triumph hurdle in 1974.
Sabin Du Loir - consistent long distance hurdler of Pipe's.
Anaglog's Daughter - tried to make all in the KIng George on a couple occasions but didn't really stay 3m.
In more recent times, I can only think of Overturn as a decent, consistent front runner.
Sabin Du Loir - consistent long distance hurdler of Pipe's.
Anaglog's Daughter - tried to make all in the KIng George on a couple occasions but didn't really stay 3m.
In more recent times, I can only think of Overturn as a decent, consistent front runner.
Sabin was a great front runner.
Beat Dawn Run one day, well Dawn Run fell.
Beat Dawn Run one day, well Dawn Run fell.
got mixed up there , did not mean Sabin
meant Beau Ranger, who was a great front runner.
meant Beau Ranger, who was a great front runner.
Sabin Du Loir beat Dawn Run in the 1983 Sun Alliance Hurdle (now neptune). West Tip was 3rd!
A pretty good renewal!
A pretty good renewal!
Even Keel.
Out And About
Hunters Teasure - won about 8 novice hurdles for Eric Cousins, going a long way clear each time, and was considered a possible threat to Persian War, even as a novice, but she wasn't quite up to that class.
Out And About
Hunters Teasure - won about 8 novice hurdles for Eric Cousins, going a long way clear each time, and was considered a possible threat to Persian War, even as a novice, but she wasn't quite up to that class.
remember many years ago the last race at Catterick backing the front runner to get out of trouble, the horse won by a distance, always remember the commentator saying its a doddle for noddle, anyone remember who trained it.
ronnie, stats say Len Lungo and it was ridden by Tim Reed (1993)
from many moons ago, Slieve Felim, Rambo Grant ridden for Stepho'...real tearaway and bold jumper ..
ronnie, actually won 3 in a row at Catterick, hard to know which one you are referring to as on each occasion it was the last race of the meeting...!
Nobody will remember this one, a 2 mile chaser of Stephenson's called Giolla Padraig.
Used to go miles clear and many times stayed clear.
Used to go miles clear and many times stayed clear.
Carvills Hill, 1991 Welsh National.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV4w0GZPriA
A truly unforgettable performance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV4w0GZPriA
A truly unforgettable performance.
Giolla Padraig, ran in the blue and yellow of Peter Pillar.
The Mighty Mac
The Mighty Mac
must be some juvenile hurdlers that racked up a long sequence, certainly some pipe ones.
Guinness - I didn't miss it! Cawstons Pride
. If racing ever had an equivalent of the 110 metres hurdles, she'd have pi77ed it. Best lb. for lb. 2yo of 1970. Mind you not much of a year for 2 year olds that.
. If racing ever had an equivalent of the 110 metres hurdles, she'd have pi77ed it. Best lb. for lb. 2yo of 1970. Mind you not much of a year for 2 year olds that.
Ra Nova led for most of his Schwepps
Hdle win,if I'm right.1984/5?
Hdle win,if I'm right.1984/5?
Giolla Padraig's last victory was a Hunters Chase aged 13, at Fontwell of all places, trained at that time by D.C.Robinson and ridden by Stuart Robinson
I remember when Dickinson got The Mighty Mac and Planetman from John Edwards yard - turned both into out and out front runners ( though not sure if TMM already was) and improved the pair of them.
Clear Cut won a good few 2m4f hcap chases from the front at Wetherby, often with top weight. Probably did more than any other single horse to get the Charlie Hall called the Charlie Hall.
Get Real around 2m at ascot,always stopped halfway up the run in
Astral Charm did a pretty good job in the Scottish Grand National back in '81.
Astral Charmer a good one. Grey Sombrero also - Would have led the National too if not for Crisp.
Sorry re Tingle Creek "Now we know" got there first!!
Mr Frisk. Made all in the Whitbread 3 weeks after breaking the race record in the Grand National. He loved that firm ground. If ever a horse bounced off it, it was him.
Evening, Blackbarn. I trust you are well.
Was gonna put Sica Dan up but he posts on here...
Was gonna put Sica Dan up but he posts on here...
Hey Guinness. Very well thanks and hope you are the same. He wouldn't mind
i nearly posted Bindaree but checked him out, doesnt fit the fred imo.
Overturn & Fair Along shocking omissions from the list.
Make A Stand was one of the best front runners, and one of the best jumpers of a hurdle I've ever seen.
Morceli..... Still makes me smile when I think back to the way that grey bugger could leap....
Ahh yes Black Magic - blazing 2 mile chaser of the QM's. He was 50-50 with Crisp at Ascot/Sandown in a couple of races in Oct/Nov one year. I was at Folkestone one day when he was PU in a novice chase at odds-on - don't know what happened as I was in the middle of the course and couldn't see much - but Richard Dennard got plenty of boos as he cantered back up the straight.
For those of you who enjoyed your racing at Fontwell, before Arena ruined it, St Athens Lad never saw another beast from flag fall to winning post on countless occasions.
It's a disgrace that the most flamboyant frontrunner of all time has only got 2 mentions, so lets hear it once again for
TINGLE CREEK
No horse has ever raced more exuberantly in my (long) lifetime.
It's a disgrace that the most flamboyant frontrunner of all time has only got 2 mentions, so lets hear it once again for
TINGLE CREEK
No horse has ever raced more exuberantly in my (long) lifetime.
Ok, another one for Tingle Creek then. There must be at least one photo of him jumping with his feet up round his ears, his head looking down between them at the fence as he flies it. How many times did he break the Sandown track record? Must have been at least 3 times.
Whippers Delight (the original) was a perpetual front-runner who ended up as a bit of a Plumpton specialist, his final win in a 3m2f chase as a 10yo. He won a couple of 7f sellers as a 2yo, making all and pulling like stink.
Trouble for so many free running types is they easily nobbled by the handicapper. Not many like Dessie or Dawn Run have had the class to operate out of handicap company - both able to battle back after being headed at the highest level.
The Mighty Marine was a bit of a front running specialist hovering up handicap chases at Newton Abbot and Devon and Exeter during the summer months - however he usually dominated as there was a lack of runners in his races on firm going.
The Listener , and do any of you posters remember Clay County bolting into a lead just to "empty out " in the closing stages ?
Little harsh about Clay County, had a decent strike rate in chases overall, winning 14/38 and finishing runner up 11 times,in the winter of 91/2 won 5/6 the last race being a defeat by Deep Sensation at Nottingham off level weights of 11-12.
Floyd is a great choice
and The Mighty Mac was quite good too
and The Mighty Mac was quite good too
Here is one that will be or may I say should be if he is allowed to take that kind of running style once again this term and if so he will be very hard to catch, yes it`s my fancy to upset the usual suspects this season, 25/1 looks value.
UN DE SCEAUX
UN DE SCEAUX
Tingle Creek was the most exciting front runner I've ever seen, but Dickenson's I'm A Driver did a passable imitation round Catterick one day and had this young punter catching his breath!
Nick Gaselee's Private Views is a mildly surprising omission. Was at Chelters when he beat Raise An Argument in the Cathcart - think Dermot Browne was on the latter. Must also mention St Torbay, a headstrong early season juvenile from the mid 70's who for a brief early season spell headed the Triumph Hdle Ante-post market. From late 70's a headstrong Peter Easterby 2m chaser called Annas' Prince, then from the same yard a few years later the classy Sula Bula and the Richard Fahey ridden Karenomore.
I remember I`m a driver, fastest horse i`ve seen heading for the first fence with Tommy Carmody hanging on for dear life.
I remember a horse Les Kennard had, Leodegrance, almost impossible to hold up over jumps - believe he won, flat, hurdles, & over fences during one calendar year...not sure which year that was.
Grey Dolphin and Yangtse-Kiang both trained by Milton Bradley in the days when racing on "hard" going was allowed.
Remember an early season handicp chaser called Allied Newcastle win on the fast ground at start of season,also remember Calapaez,a juvenile hurdler trained by Brooke Sanders and at times ridden by Colin Brown or more often Clive Cox,and was the prolific Royal Derbi a front runner?
Am looking at a framed photo of Floyd on my wall right now, jumping out to his right as usual and in a clear lead before winning the Bula Hdle. Also won the Fighting Fifth also going left-handed, rallying incredibly gamely, as usual. When he made all by a neck over 3m at Ascot aged 12, I don't think I have ever loved anything on this earth more than that horse that day.
Rusty Roc was bred, owned and trained by S Wales permit holder MW Davies. Started off as a 7yo failing in 2m chases. Switched to hurdles, he won ten of them, making all. MW Davies was once quoted: "I love this horse - he bought my house." Fell in the lead at the last in his final race - a 3m hurdle at Chepstow, aged 14, ridden by AP McCoy(3).
As a 2yo Sakr was the horse Paddy Butler thought might put him on the map, but temperament got the better of him. Switched to hurdles for the Wonnacott family of Devon, he had to be led in at the start, but this often got him a flyer, particularly under Mr D Wonnacott(7). On one occasion at Newton Abbot in summer 1989 he nicked 20l at the start and was still 20l clear of MC Pipe's Crofter's Nest at the finish. P Scudamore et al. were not amused afterwards.
Silver Cannon was a grey front-runner trained by Rufus Voorspuy to make all in a couple of Plumpton selling hurdles. He really wasn't very good, but was a terrific jumper and went on to make all in 5 chases around Fontwell. He was usually ridden by Micky Furlong, as was another Voorspuy front runner called Solstice Bell, who won five hurdles around the southern gaffs at the same time. She didn't really get a yard beyond 2m 2f, but did make all once over 2m 4f in a 6-runner affair around Plumpton on hard ground. This resulted in her Timeform comment being amended to "stays 20f". That was the point when I realized just what a liability Timeform is for punters.
Rusty Roc was bred, owned and trained by S Wales permit holder MW Davies. Started off as a 7yo failing in 2m chases. Switched to hurdles, he won ten of them, making all. MW Davies was once quoted: "I love this horse - he bought my house." Fell in the lead at the last in his final race - a 3m hurdle at Chepstow, aged 14, ridden by AP McCoy(3).
As a 2yo Sakr was the horse Paddy Butler thought might put him on the map, but temperament got the better of him. Switched to hurdles for the Wonnacott family of Devon, he had to be led in at the start, but this often got him a flyer, particularly under Mr D Wonnacott(7). On one occasion at Newton Abbot in summer 1989 he nicked 20l at the start and was still 20l clear of MC Pipe's Crofter's Nest at the finish. P Scudamore et al. were not amused afterwards.
Silver Cannon was a grey front-runner trained by Rufus Voorspuy to make all in a couple of Plumpton selling hurdles. He really wasn't very good, but was a terrific jumper and went on to make all in 5 chases around Fontwell. He was usually ridden by Micky Furlong, as was another Voorspuy front runner called Solstice Bell, who won five hurdles around the southern gaffs at the same time. She didn't really get a yard beyond 2m 2f, but did make all once over 2m 4f in a 6-runner affair around Plumpton on hard ground. This resulted in her Timeform comment being amended to "stays 20f". That was the point when I realized just what a liability Timeform is for punters.
Have to mention Sydney Barry, a NZ-bred trained by Bob Buckler. Started off by leading in novice hdles under Mr Chris Bonner(7). The horse clearly had speed, but no chance at the weights or was racing on soft ground or trips he didn't stay. One day at Exeter he was actually still in the lead 2 out over 2m 3f, yet by the last he'd simply been pulled up. This was back in the happy days before meetings like this were televised. There weren't even on-course replays. You had to get high up in the stands with a pair of bins to see these things.
Next time out was 2m 1f on good ground at Hereford carrying 9-7 and 8lb out of the handicap. It was the last race, some bookies had gone home, none were betting each way. Pipe and Nicholls had the joint favs to make the market. I was told afterwards that Buckler took 25/1, but don't know whether that's true. I had £50 each way at SP in the Tote Credit shop. The only other person at the track who I knew had seen what had been going on with this horse was Bearded Alan. We agreed to keep it as an SP job and not back it in the Ring.
Sydney Barry made every yard at an SP of 100/1.
I bought John Stubbs a cake in the buffet at Newport station afterwards to thank him for the very fair SP he'd returned. He felt it was the worst attempt at bribing an SP reporter he'd ever encountered.
My Tote Credit account was immediately restricted to bets at tote odds only. Sydney Barry's owner, Peter Jones, later became head of the Tote.
Sprintfayre was an unraced 5yo by Magnolia Lad, owned by PJ Coleman and trained by Rod Simpson, when he debuted in a Sandown bumper in Nov. 1993. The Racing Post had him down to be ridden by DOUBTFUL, and the numbers board at Sandown listed his jockey as NON-RUNNER, yet he turned up in the paddock and didn't look a bad sort. Eddie Fremantle went up to the Press Box and discovered Marcus Armytage was going to ride, which was a decent booking in a bumper.
The only other horse I could think of by Magnolia Lad was a decent hurdler called Billy Boru, who was also five and also trained by Rod Simpson. Billy Boru had won bumper on his racecourse debut, when also owned by PJ Coleman, but trained then by Albert Davison. Alarm Bells rang.
Fremantle and I backed it quietly around the Ring. I remember having 25 fifties each way and a £1,000 to £60. Sprintfayre made every yard of the running.
The horse called Sprintfayre ran many times afterwards, but never approached that form, winning just a couple of little handicap hurdles at Fontwell and Towcester. Both Sprintfayre and Billy Boru ended up listed as being trained by John and Monica Long.
Next time out was 2m 1f on good ground at Hereford carrying 9-7 and 8lb out of the handicap. It was the last race, some bookies had gone home, none were betting each way. Pipe and Nicholls had the joint favs to make the market. I was told afterwards that Buckler took 25/1, but don't know whether that's true. I had £50 each way at SP in the Tote Credit shop. The only other person at the track who I knew had seen what had been going on with this horse was Bearded Alan. We agreed to keep it as an SP job and not back it in the Ring.
Sydney Barry made every yard at an SP of 100/1.
I bought John Stubbs a cake in the buffet at Newport station afterwards to thank him for the very fair SP he'd returned. He felt it was the worst attempt at bribing an SP reporter he'd ever encountered.
My Tote Credit account was immediately restricted to bets at tote odds only. Sydney Barry's owner, Peter Jones, later became head of the Tote.
Sprintfayre was an unraced 5yo by Magnolia Lad, owned by PJ Coleman and trained by Rod Simpson, when he debuted in a Sandown bumper in Nov. 1993. The Racing Post had him down to be ridden by DOUBTFUL, and the numbers board at Sandown listed his jockey as NON-RUNNER, yet he turned up in the paddock and didn't look a bad sort. Eddie Fremantle went up to the Press Box and discovered Marcus Armytage was going to ride, which was a decent booking in a bumper.
The only other horse I could think of by Magnolia Lad was a decent hurdler called Billy Boru, who was also five and also trained by Rod Simpson. Billy Boru had won bumper on his racecourse debut, when also owned by PJ Coleman, but trained then by Albert Davison. Alarm Bells rang.
Fremantle and I backed it quietly around the Ring. I remember having 25 fifties each way and a £1,000 to £60. Sprintfayre made every yard of the running.
The horse called Sprintfayre ran many times afterwards, but never approached that form, winning just a couple of little handicap hurdles at Fontwell and Towcester. Both Sprintfayre and Billy Boru ended up listed as being trained by John and Monica Long.
Screamingfrombeneath,thankyou i really enjoyed your contributions,just as an aside reference Sakr you mentioned,i have often thought that his first trainer, Paddy Butler,must have trained some of the most moderate horses to race over the last 2 or 3 decades,surely deserves better luck.
Yes, kabcast. I remember reading one of those stable profiles in the old Sporting Life Weekender in the mid-1980s where Butler was detailing the grim struggle to find a race with slow horses, but with Sakr he had at last found one with a bit of speed. Thinking about it, the horse may have been 3 or 4 years old by the time Butler got him. Possibly with Dick Hern as a 2yo??
With the Wonnacotts Sakr's last ever race would have led to a meltdown on here. A 3-runner hurdle on hard ground at Exeter. The Pipe Scudamore Racing Club had the favourite, Ultra Violet. Sakr was second favourite, having made all last time out despite whipping round at the start under the professional Mark Williams. The Wonnacotts also had the outsider, another front runner, called Lizzy Longstocking.
Sakr, under Mark Williams again, virtually refused to race and broke down when he did. Stable companion Lizzy Longstocking meanwhile went on to make all under Mrs C Wonnacott.
With the Wonnacotts Sakr's last ever race would have led to a meltdown on here. A 3-runner hurdle on hard ground at Exeter. The Pipe Scudamore Racing Club had the favourite, Ultra Violet. Sakr was second favourite, having made all last time out despite whipping round at the start under the professional Mark Williams. The Wonnacotts also had the outsider, another front runner, called Lizzy Longstocking.
Sakr, under Mark Williams again, virtually refused to race and broke down when he did. Stable companion Lizzy Longstocking meanwhile went on to make all under Mrs C Wonnacott.
Rentaghost - dashing grey! - not sure he managed to win many races.
Hardy Eustace
Still the last horse to retain the Champion Hurdle and imo a most underrated one as well.
Still the last horse to retain the Champion Hurdle and imo a most underrated one as well.
Screaming from beneaththewaves, mentions a NZ beast, Sydney Barry.
This prompted my dusty memory to come up with Grand Canyon, also NZ bred and raised.
Won umpteen novice hurdles, 4/9 when only 3rd in the Supreme Novices, he broke endless track records and went to the US to win back to back Colonial Cups. Also won in Italy and France.
He must be in the all time top ten of habitual front runners, class wise.
This prompted my dusty memory to come up with Grand Canyon, also NZ bred and raised.
Won umpteen novice hurdles, 4/9 when only 3rd in the Supreme Novices, he broke endless track records and went to the US to win back to back Colonial Cups. Also won in Italy and France.
He must be in the all time top ten of habitual front runners, class wise.
Grand Canyon would certainly qualify particularly as he led up Tied Cottage (already mentioned in other threads) in the 1979 King George VI Chase won that year by Silver Buck - not surprisingly they could not keep up the gallop up front.
http://youtu.be/dQWBVOPyHWI
Some great, genuine,gutsy, front runners mentioned from bygone days - makes me wonder that they are a dying breed nowadays?
http://youtu.be/dQWBVOPyHWI
Some great, genuine,gutsy, front runners mentioned from bygone days - makes me wonder that they are a dying breed nowadays?
I was at Bangor one Saturday when they started putting TV's in the bars to watch away coverage on BBC or ITV, Grand Canyon was running at Kempton in what was a virtual match with Swift Shadow, although there were other runners. The away bookies tic tac was showing out from the extel commentary, about 20 seconds behind the action. Grand Canyon fell at the first and the rest is history as I accommodated the three of them with all my readies.
There was a grey horse that Elsworth trained around the late nineties that could look good going from the front - Desert something?
Grand Canyon stirs up memories of his stable companion Navigation, another ex New Zealand front runner who was a bit part player in some classy events.On the subject of that yard Derek Kent moved to the far east to train and ended up being warned off.
bregawn winning the 83 gold cup lead till the last then stayed on strongly michael dickinson had the first 5.
And Kent's Young Arfur won at the Chelts Festival..
Great to see the 79 King George again, a field of quality and depth.
Lot more flashy jumpers than Silver Buck , but he was so efficient gliding over his fences with little wasted energy ....a superstar.
Lot more flashy jumpers than Silver Buck , but he was so efficient gliding over his fences with little wasted energy ....a superstar.
found the 86 Imperial Cup where my favourite front runner , Hypnosis ran and was the moral winner.
http://tinyurl.com/opfmccm
http://tinyurl.com/opfmccm
HOMEFIELD - st nicholas abbey
That`s a brilliant shout. Best front runner ever on the Flat but I wasn`t sure if he ran over hurdles. Did he ever win over obstacles?
That`s a brilliant shout. Best front runner ever on the Flat but I wasn`t sure if he ran over hurdles. Did he ever win over obstacles?
Egypt Mill Prince won a few from the front.
One day Brad won on it never seeing another rival.
One day Brad won on it never seeing another rival.
Lough Derg, won me a fw quid especially at Ascot or Buena Vista who has won me loads at the festival.
in 1978 between Aug 2 and Nov 15, Carrigeen Hill J King C Bewicke won 9 chases, making all on each occasion (1 walkover), finally put in his place by I'm A Driver at Ascot on Nov 18. Homefield did run over hurdles (2nd at Cartmel), I don't have all the books' so can't tell you if he ever won.
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